Haunted [Chapter 4]
Rating: PG13
Warnings: Horror themes.
Summary: The Dong Bang apartment has become too crowded. When more living space is needed, the boys will ask the company for new living quarters. When they arrive at the destination they are met with their dream house, however, will that dream turn into a nightmare once obscure things start happening in that house?
A/N: New chapter before I go to China as promised, though I have to apologize, I don't think I did a very good job with this one. I won't write in a month (since I won't be home), so you get a longer chapter this time. Enjoy~
Changmin clutched his duffel bag and laptop as he took one last look around his room. Most of their clothes and other personal things had been packed and taken to the new house already and the furniture they would take would need a moving truck.
He sighed contently and, resisting the urge to look through the drawers again to check he hadn’t forgotten anything, he closed the door behind him. Following the delicious smell of bacon he made his way into the kitchen where Jaejoong was tending a pan full of the frying meat while cracking open eggs and whisking the whites and the yolks together in a bowl.
“Smells good”, he muttered from the doorway, startling Jae who dropped the egg shell into the dark yellow mix.
“Leave your stuff in the living room and come sit down. These will be done in no time”, the lead singer said while picking up the dropped shell and throwing it into the trash bin. He flipped the sizzling bacon, making the delicious fumes float around the room and Changmin’s stomach grumbled.
Changmin dropped his bags quite carelessly on the living room and dashed back into the kitchen, mouth watering and stomach protesting from being empty. He was about to take a bacon strip with his fingers from the absorbing paper-covered tray they were on when Jaejoong shot him a disapproving look and handed him a plate and a spatula. With a thankful smile, Changmin grabbed several bacon strips and piled some of the freshly made scrambled eggs on his plate, making his way to the table and sitting down to eat.
Changmin was on his second serving of eggs and bacon (“don’t take too much bacon, leave some for the others”, Jaejoong had reprimanded him.) when Yoochun made his way into the kitchen and slumped into a chair.
“Coffee,” he mumbled from between his arms.
The youngest replied with a smart-ass reply that was muffled behind a mouthful of eggs while Jaejoong put a mug full of coffee and a plate in front of Yoochun.
“Eat,” Jaejoong commanded and returned to tending the food.
Minutes later Junsu arrived at the kitchen. His hair was still wet from the shower and his eyes looked a little sunk in, probably from lack of sleep the previous nights but his expression brightened as soon as he saw that Jaejoong had made bacon that morning. Junsu had been acting forlorn and quiet ever since the incident at the new house four days ago so it was a nice change seeing him being cheerful.
“Here you go Su-yah”, Jaejoong put a plate in front of Junsu and the latter frowned.
“Isn’t there more bacon Hyung?” he asked, picking at the warm strips.
“Changmin ate it all before you came”, Jaejoong shrugged.
“Yah! Changmin!” Junsu exclaimed while the youngest shoved the last two bacon strips into his mouth before Junsu could steal them.
“You should’ve hurried up in the shower”, Changmin replied after swallowing.
“Chunnie?” Junsu looked hopeful towards a now-much-more-awake Yoochun who pulled his plate towards himself.
“This is mine.”
Junsu pouted and crossed his arms. He looked around the table and noticed two empty chairs.
“Where’s Yunho-hyung?”
“He went early to meet with the higher-ups,” Jaejoong replied, finally sitting down with his own breakfast. “Here,” he said and pushed some of his bacon onto Junsu’s plate.
“You’re really giving it to me? Thanks Hyung!” Junsu said ecstatic, eating his bacon, when Jae only nodded and Changmin huffed.
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When Yunho arrived, they all quickly grabbed their last possessions and said goodbye to what was now their previous home. The car ride to the studio was a calm affair if only disturbed by their manager telling them their schedule for the day.
“I also have something to tell you guys”, Yunho said, turning to look at his fellow members, “It’s been decided we’re to start preparing for our next album in a couple of weeks. It is to be ready before Christmas so we have about five months to get ready”.
“Finally!” exclaimed Junsu, stretching and putting his arms behind his head, “I was wondering when we would be doing something new.”
“I was hoping for some vacation…” Changmin muttered while Jaejoong and Yoochun nodded in agreement.
“Don’t worry, after your presentation this Thursday you have a three day weekend before you start getting ready for the new album”, their manager told them from the front seat of the van just as they arrived at the studio.
A chorus of celebrating exclamations was heard before they all scrambled out of the van and into the studio for dance practice.
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“Do you think it is such a great idea to live in that house?”
Junsu and Yoochun were in the van, waiting for the rest to finish showering and dressing after the dance practice. They were leaning against each other, sharing earphones that were connected to an iPod now lost between the vehicle’s seats when it slipped from Yoochun’s lap. It was the first night they would spend in the new house and Junsu was nervous about it. He had woken up with lifted spirits but as the time to go to the new house got closer and closer dread started to sink into every fiber of his body.
“Great idea or not the deed is already done, we can’t go back to the apartment now Su”, Yoochun replied shifting closer to Junsu, feeling the tension coursing through his friend’s body. “What’s wrong?” he asked wrapping one arm around Junsu’s shoulders.
Junsu bit his lip. Could he tell Yoochun about the voices? He would understand, he was there after all. Junsu was not scared of the dark (maybe he was now) and Yoochun knew it. The older man seemed to have read his thoughts because he spoke before Junsu could open his mouth.
“What happened in the basement that scared you like that?” he gently squeezed Junsu’s arm in reassurance.
Junsu swallowed hard and turned to look at Yoochun before starting talking.
“I-I heard voices. Someone was breathing harshly right over my shoulder and then I got to the door and I swear I heard the lock fall into place; then a dreadful feeling came over me, like I would never leave that darkness”, Junsu explained, his voice lowering in volume as he spoke.
“Junsu…” Yoochun’s eyes were wide while he held Junsu’s shoulders, “What do y-“
“Just say you believe me! You do believe me, right?!”
Any doubt Yoochun could have was pushed to the back of his mind at the desperation in Junsu’s voice, “I believe you, I-“
Suddenly, the van’s door slid open and Changmin climbed in, followed by Jaejoong and Yunho. They had all showered and were wearing casual clothes now much like Yoochun and Junsu. Jaejoong and Changmin were bickering about something while Yunho rubbed his temples. Before Changmin could sit with them in the back Junsu grabbed Yoochun’s shirt collar and put his right ear against his mouth.
“Don’t tell them”, he whispered and let Yoochun go.
Yoochun swallowed but otherwise stayed quiet.
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It wasn’t a long time before they were at their new driveway. The house was conveniently at the same distance from the studio as their old apartment, just in the other direction.
Getting down from the car and holding their bags they made their way through the slanting front yard and up the steps to the front porch; Yunho fumbling with the keys as the other four followed.
“We should make copies”, said Changmin as Yunho opened the door and stepped inside, making room for the others to enter.
Once inside, everyone left to their respective rooms; Changmin and Junsu sharing the larges one. Changmin dropped his bag on his bed on the right side facing the door while Junsu stood chewing on the inside of his cheek. He did not like this, not at all. Changmin noticed Junsu wasn’t fighting with him for drawer/closet space and turned to look at the distant-looking man.
“Is something wrong Hyung?” he asked with a frown.
Junsu snapped out of his thoughts when the youngest addressed him, “N-no, I’m okay”, he said and started unpacking albeit slowly. Changmin shrugged and, after finishing unpacking the few clothes that hadn’t been taken into the house already, announced that he would be going to the kitchen to get a drink. Junsu nodded and Changmin left the room. Junsu kept unpacking until he could no longer hear Changmin’s footsteps on the squeaky stairs (they were going to be fixed later) and bolted out of the room and across the hallway into Yoochun’s.
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During dinner time that night Yoochun couldn’t stop stealing worried glances at Junsu. His friend had always been very independent so it surprised Yoochun when Junsu arrived at his room, panting like he had run the whole way there although their rooms were across from each other.
Yoochun threw a puzzled look at the youngest member when he heard the door to his bedroom door slam closed behind the younger man while the latter changed his frightened expression to a smile so cheerful it looked painfully fake. Junsu started making small chat and even offered Yoochun help with unpacking but Yoochun asked him if he had finished his.
“Not yet,” the younger replied.
“Then go finish, I got this”, Yoochun told him noticing how Junsu tensed up at his words.
“I want to help you instead”, Junsu composed his face to a cheerful expression again.
“It’s fine, go.”
“Please let me help you.”
Yoochun didn’t miss Junsu’s tone or the pleading look in his eyes. He sighed and tossed some pairs of pants to him.
“Get those on some hangers.”
Yoochun stared hard at his bowl of rice. Had the basement incident frightened Junsu that much? And what was that about hearing voices? He was worried his band mate was losing his mind.
When everybody had their stomachs full and before the after-meal drowsiness could sink in, Yunho spoke.
“Everyone should get a good night sleep tonight since tomorrow is a busy day, don’t go to bed too late”, and with that he took his plate to the sink, whished them good night and went upstairs to his room.
Shortly after, Changmin also retired upstairs, not before taking a peak at what was left over of the dinner so he could snack on it later. Jaejoong downed his glass of water and followed the maknae.
“Oh, before I forget. It’s your time to do the dishes tonight Yoochun”, the oldest member said, coming back from around the corner and leaving just as quickly.
Yoochun sighed, knowing better than to complain and started gathering the dirty plates from the table, noticing Junsu was doing the same.
“What are you doing?” he asked, frowning.
“Helping you with the dishes”, Junsu answered innocently, but Yoochun already knew what it was all about.
With a resigned sigh Yoochun let him help him, “just so you know I’m not helping you when your turn to wash them comes”.
Junsu nodded, taking the plates and putting them in the sink. He rinsed them while Yoochun got the detergent and was shoed away by the older man, “You’ve helped enough, now go finish unpacking”.
Junsu stood there, still holding a rice bowl like a deer caught in headlights, “Let me help you please!”
“You’ve helped enough already, now go”, Yoochun pried Junsu’s fingers from the bowl while he pushed him gently out of the kitchen.
“Please, I don’t want to be alone”, Junsu just short of begged but Yoochun finally got him out of the kitchen and was closing the door behind him.
“Changmin is in your room, you won’t be alone”, he said before closing the door and going back to the dishes.
Junsu wanted to stay there, even if it was outside the door but one look at the dark living room and he sprinted up the stairs in no time.
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Yunho toyed with the doll’s button eyes. He had left the table before any of them so he could retrieve the doll he had hidden behind the TV the day Junsu got locked in the basement. Sitting on the side of his bed he wondered if the girl from that day would ever come again for her doll. He hadn’t even caught her name so he couldn’t ask around if anybody knew where she lived and deliver the small ragged doll to her personally.
Lost in his thoughts as he was he didn’t hear the soft knocks on his door, and barely had time to hide the doll under his pillow when a light-brown haired head poked its way through the gap between the opened door and the wall.
“Yunho? May I come in?” Jaejoong asked noticing the leader was slightly jumpy.
“Uh? Yeah, sure.”
Jaejoong was already dressed in sweats and a tank top, his naked feet making no sound on the hardwood floor as he advanced towards the leader.
“Do you have any toothpaste? Seems like I forgot mine in the rush to pack”, Jaejoong asked, holding his toothbrush up so Yunho could see the reason of his late night visit.
“Y-yeah, it’s in my bag”, Yunho said, pointing to his unpacked bag sitting on the floor.
“You haven’t unpacked? Aish…” Jaejoong kneeled in front of Yunho’s bag and unzipped it.
“I was checking our schedule and other stuff so-“
“How many times I’ve told you to fold your shirts before? If you don’t you will have to iron them constantly and the fabric wears out”, Jaejoong said, taking out the messily packed shirts and folding them while Yunho sighed and hugged Jaejoong tightly enough from behind to make the other man have trouble breathing.
“That’s why I have you”, he said in a sickly sweet voice meant to tease only to get a elbow shoved painfully at his chest, making him let go with an “oof”.
“Yah! I’m not your maid, so get folding”, Jaejoong tossed a wrinkled shirt at Yunho’s face, “I cannot find the toothpaste in this mess.”
They folded shirts in silence, stacking one on top of the other when finally Jaejoong broke the silence.
“Thanks”, he said not taking his eyes from the shirts.
Yunho stared puzzled at him, “for what?”
“For making this happen; this house”, Jaejoong replied, waving his arms around to emphasize his point.
Yunho smiled but kept folding, “You should thank Changmin for that. Without his approval we wouldn’t have bought it.”
Jaejoong nodded, fishing for the toothpaste in Yunho’s now much emptier bag. Suddenly his eyes lit up and his hand came back out clutching a tube of toothpaste.
“Found it! Finish folding those and put them away. Good night!” he exclaimed and left Yunho’s room.
Yunho smiled and shook his head at Jaejoong’s retreating figure. That guy could be such a mom sometimes. He finished unpacking and folding his clothes (else Jaejoong would have a fit) and changed into some sweats to sleep in after he put most of his clothes away in the drawers and the closet in his room. He was exhausted and as soon as his head hit the pillow he was out like a light.
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Junsu couldn’t sleep. Changmin had been on his laptop when he arrived at his room and went to sleep shortly after, making him no company at all. He tried to close his eyes and sleep but the silence was unbearable. He tried to use his mp3 but now that his ears were busy and his brain wouldn’t replay the breathing he had heard in the basement, his imagination did a pretty good job at putting a grotesque and incredibly frightening face to the equally frightening breathing that had ghosted over his shoulder days ago.
He spent hours like this, lying in his bed curled up in a tight ball; not daring to utter a sound, not daring to move even when his leg started cramping from being flexed for so long.
When Changmin’s stomach grumbled and the youngest woke up for his midnight snack, Junsu couldn’t take it anymore and scurried to Yoochun’s room as soon as Changmin was out of theirs.
He knelt next to Yoochun’s sleeping form and shook him softly.
“Wha-“, Yoochun said groggily, trying to distinguish the form kneeling next to his bed.
“Junsu?” he asked leaning against his arm and checking the clock on top of the bedside table, “it’s 2:40am, what are you doing here?”
“Let me stay here”, Junsu whispered, proceeding to chew on his lips nervously.
“Hm? No way, go back to your room”, Yoochun said as he ran a hand over his face, trying to rub the sleepiness away.
“Please!”
Yoochun took one look at Junsu’s whimpering form and let a big breath out through his nose, scooting to make place for Junsu on the bed.
“Just for tonight”, he warned.
Relief washed over Junsu’s body as he climbed under the covers next to Yoochun, pressing his head against the older man’s back.
“Just for tonight”, he agreed.
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Yunho woke up with a start. There was somebody in his room, he was sure of it. He kept still and quiet, hoping the intruder would make a noise, giving them away. His suspicion was confirmed when a girlish giggle was heard and tiny feet ran to his door, the unmistakable silhouette of a skirt flowing after the wearer and out of his room.
Yunho tossed the covers aside and ran after what seemed to be a girl. He stopped in the hallway when he realized he could no longer hear the girl’s laughter. He looked around in the darkness and could make out the outlines of the closed doors surrounding the space. He hadn’t heard a door open and close so she must have gone downstairs.
Cringing at the squeaking wood under his foot he decided to get it done and over with and he walked down the stairs hurriedly. He went in the direction of the kitchen when he saw the light was on but the window in the middle of the door allowed him to see it was only Changmin eating the leftovers from dinner. Turning around he noticed the sliding doors in the living room were slightly open.
Standing just inside the sliding doors he noticed the door to the boat house was open. ‘Not a smart move to hide there’, thought Yunho, running across the backyard and towards the river. He crossed the unsteady and narrow bridge to the rotting structure and entered the place.
Darkness permeated the inside of the dangerous place and he cursed at himself for not bringing a flashlight. Rubbing his arms against the humid cold of the river he called out with a tentative “hello?” but the only response he got was a bat flying straight to his face, scaring the crap out of him. Deciding it wise to stop his search in an unfamiliar place where he could hear the waves from the river in the inside of the boat house he locked the place and went back to the house.
Changmin was waiting for him standing in the living room.
“What happened?” he inquired.
“I thought I saw…“ Yunho stopped midsentence before shaking his head, “Nevermind, I must be hearing things”.
“Maybe it was me. I thought I wasn’t making too much noise, sorry for waking you up Hyung”, Changmin apologized.
“It’s alright, go to sleep now though”, Yunho said and followed Changmin upstairs.
“Good night”, Changmin said once they reached his room to which Yunho replied with a ‘Good Night’ of his own and went to his own room.
Back in his room, Yunho went back to bed and sighed. What had just happened? Maybe it was all a dream but that wouldn’t explain the open living room doors or the embankment being unlocked. He put an arm behind his head and under his pillow, his eyes widening when he noticed something missing. He turned around and lifted the pillow, then lifted the covers and searched across the room’s perimeter but found nothing.
The doll was gone.
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Was it too terrible? I am not happy at all with this chapter but it took me around four days to write it so I was hesitant to start it again since I have my Japanese final and all. It's barely edited only because it's so long! (I'm a lazy cow okay? I know there are stories with way longer chapters out there). I promise something better for chapter 5, this was mostly a filler chapter :/
Oh yeah, YooSu fans can bask in the YooSuness that is this story. When did this happen? I asked you if you wanted pairings and I only got one person saying JaeChun while I said I wanted to do YunJae and it ended being a YooSu fest. :/ In the end I decided there won't be any major pairings, only friendship and stuff. But there's nothing planned so who knows? :)
Warnings: Horror themes.
Summary: The Dong Bang apartment has become too crowded. When more living space is needed, the boys will ask the company for new living quarters. When they arrive at the destination they are met with their dream house, however, will that dream turn into a nightmare once obscure things start happening in that house?
A/N: New chapter before I go to China as promised, though I have to apologize, I don't think I did a very good job with this one. I won't write in a month (since I won't be home), so you get a longer chapter this time. Enjoy~
Changmin clutched his duffel bag and laptop as he took one last look around his room. Most of their clothes and other personal things had been packed and taken to the new house already and the furniture they would take would need a moving truck.
He sighed contently and, resisting the urge to look through the drawers again to check he hadn’t forgotten anything, he closed the door behind him. Following the delicious smell of bacon he made his way into the kitchen where Jaejoong was tending a pan full of the frying meat while cracking open eggs and whisking the whites and the yolks together in a bowl.
“Smells good”, he muttered from the doorway, startling Jae who dropped the egg shell into the dark yellow mix.
“Leave your stuff in the living room and come sit down. These will be done in no time”, the lead singer said while picking up the dropped shell and throwing it into the trash bin. He flipped the sizzling bacon, making the delicious fumes float around the room and Changmin’s stomach grumbled.
Changmin dropped his bags quite carelessly on the living room and dashed back into the kitchen, mouth watering and stomach protesting from being empty. He was about to take a bacon strip with his fingers from the absorbing paper-covered tray they were on when Jaejoong shot him a disapproving look and handed him a plate and a spatula. With a thankful smile, Changmin grabbed several bacon strips and piled some of the freshly made scrambled eggs on his plate, making his way to the table and sitting down to eat.
Changmin was on his second serving of eggs and bacon (“don’t take too much bacon, leave some for the others”, Jaejoong had reprimanded him.) when Yoochun made his way into the kitchen and slumped into a chair.
“Coffee,” he mumbled from between his arms.
The youngest replied with a smart-ass reply that was muffled behind a mouthful of eggs while Jaejoong put a mug full of coffee and a plate in front of Yoochun.
“Eat,” Jaejoong commanded and returned to tending the food.
Minutes later Junsu arrived at the kitchen. His hair was still wet from the shower and his eyes looked a little sunk in, probably from lack of sleep the previous nights but his expression brightened as soon as he saw that Jaejoong had made bacon that morning. Junsu had been acting forlorn and quiet ever since the incident at the new house four days ago so it was a nice change seeing him being cheerful.
“Here you go Su-yah”, Jaejoong put a plate in front of Junsu and the latter frowned.
“Isn’t there more bacon Hyung?” he asked, picking at the warm strips.
“Changmin ate it all before you came”, Jaejoong shrugged.
“Yah! Changmin!” Junsu exclaimed while the youngest shoved the last two bacon strips into his mouth before Junsu could steal them.
“You should’ve hurried up in the shower”, Changmin replied after swallowing.
“Chunnie?” Junsu looked hopeful towards a now-much-more-awake Yoochun who pulled his plate towards himself.
“This is mine.”
Junsu pouted and crossed his arms. He looked around the table and noticed two empty chairs.
“Where’s Yunho-hyung?”
“He went early to meet with the higher-ups,” Jaejoong replied, finally sitting down with his own breakfast. “Here,” he said and pushed some of his bacon onto Junsu’s plate.
“You’re really giving it to me? Thanks Hyung!” Junsu said ecstatic, eating his bacon, when Jae only nodded and Changmin huffed.
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When Yunho arrived, they all quickly grabbed their last possessions and said goodbye to what was now their previous home. The car ride to the studio was a calm affair if only disturbed by their manager telling them their schedule for the day.
“I also have something to tell you guys”, Yunho said, turning to look at his fellow members, “It’s been decided we’re to start preparing for our next album in a couple of weeks. It is to be ready before Christmas so we have about five months to get ready”.
“Finally!” exclaimed Junsu, stretching and putting his arms behind his head, “I was wondering when we would be doing something new.”
“I was hoping for some vacation…” Changmin muttered while Jaejoong and Yoochun nodded in agreement.
“Don’t worry, after your presentation this Thursday you have a three day weekend before you start getting ready for the new album”, their manager told them from the front seat of the van just as they arrived at the studio.
A chorus of celebrating exclamations was heard before they all scrambled out of the van and into the studio for dance practice.
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“Do you think it is such a great idea to live in that house?”
Junsu and Yoochun were in the van, waiting for the rest to finish showering and dressing after the dance practice. They were leaning against each other, sharing earphones that were connected to an iPod now lost between the vehicle’s seats when it slipped from Yoochun’s lap. It was the first night they would spend in the new house and Junsu was nervous about it. He had woken up with lifted spirits but as the time to go to the new house got closer and closer dread started to sink into every fiber of his body.
“Great idea or not the deed is already done, we can’t go back to the apartment now Su”, Yoochun replied shifting closer to Junsu, feeling the tension coursing through his friend’s body. “What’s wrong?” he asked wrapping one arm around Junsu’s shoulders.
Junsu bit his lip. Could he tell Yoochun about the voices? He would understand, he was there after all. Junsu was not scared of the dark (maybe he was now) and Yoochun knew it. The older man seemed to have read his thoughts because he spoke before Junsu could open his mouth.
“What happened in the basement that scared you like that?” he gently squeezed Junsu’s arm in reassurance.
Junsu swallowed hard and turned to look at Yoochun before starting talking.
“I-I heard voices. Someone was breathing harshly right over my shoulder and then I got to the door and I swear I heard the lock fall into place; then a dreadful feeling came over me, like I would never leave that darkness”, Junsu explained, his voice lowering in volume as he spoke.
“Junsu…” Yoochun’s eyes were wide while he held Junsu’s shoulders, “What do y-“
“Just say you believe me! You do believe me, right?!”
Any doubt Yoochun could have was pushed to the back of his mind at the desperation in Junsu’s voice, “I believe you, I-“
Suddenly, the van’s door slid open and Changmin climbed in, followed by Jaejoong and Yunho. They had all showered and were wearing casual clothes now much like Yoochun and Junsu. Jaejoong and Changmin were bickering about something while Yunho rubbed his temples. Before Changmin could sit with them in the back Junsu grabbed Yoochun’s shirt collar and put his right ear against his mouth.
“Don’t tell them”, he whispered and let Yoochun go.
Yoochun swallowed but otherwise stayed quiet.
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It wasn’t a long time before they were at their new driveway. The house was conveniently at the same distance from the studio as their old apartment, just in the other direction.
Getting down from the car and holding their bags they made their way through the slanting front yard and up the steps to the front porch; Yunho fumbling with the keys as the other four followed.
“We should make copies”, said Changmin as Yunho opened the door and stepped inside, making room for the others to enter.
Once inside, everyone left to their respective rooms; Changmin and Junsu sharing the larges one. Changmin dropped his bag on his bed on the right side facing the door while Junsu stood chewing on the inside of his cheek. He did not like this, not at all. Changmin noticed Junsu wasn’t fighting with him for drawer/closet space and turned to look at the distant-looking man.
“Is something wrong Hyung?” he asked with a frown.
Junsu snapped out of his thoughts when the youngest addressed him, “N-no, I’m okay”, he said and started unpacking albeit slowly. Changmin shrugged and, after finishing unpacking the few clothes that hadn’t been taken into the house already, announced that he would be going to the kitchen to get a drink. Junsu nodded and Changmin left the room. Junsu kept unpacking until he could no longer hear Changmin’s footsteps on the squeaky stairs (they were going to be fixed later) and bolted out of the room and across the hallway into Yoochun’s.
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During dinner time that night Yoochun couldn’t stop stealing worried glances at Junsu. His friend had always been very independent so it surprised Yoochun when Junsu arrived at his room, panting like he had run the whole way there although their rooms were across from each other.
Yoochun threw a puzzled look at the youngest member when he heard the door to his bedroom door slam closed behind the younger man while the latter changed his frightened expression to a smile so cheerful it looked painfully fake. Junsu started making small chat and even offered Yoochun help with unpacking but Yoochun asked him if he had finished his.
“Not yet,” the younger replied.
“Then go finish, I got this”, Yoochun told him noticing how Junsu tensed up at his words.
“I want to help you instead”, Junsu composed his face to a cheerful expression again.
“It’s fine, go.”
“Please let me help you.”
Yoochun didn’t miss Junsu’s tone or the pleading look in his eyes. He sighed and tossed some pairs of pants to him.
“Get those on some hangers.”
Yoochun stared hard at his bowl of rice. Had the basement incident frightened Junsu that much? And what was that about hearing voices? He was worried his band mate was losing his mind.
When everybody had their stomachs full and before the after-meal drowsiness could sink in, Yunho spoke.
“Everyone should get a good night sleep tonight since tomorrow is a busy day, don’t go to bed too late”, and with that he took his plate to the sink, whished them good night and went upstairs to his room.
Shortly after, Changmin also retired upstairs, not before taking a peak at what was left over of the dinner so he could snack on it later. Jaejoong downed his glass of water and followed the maknae.
“Oh, before I forget. It’s your time to do the dishes tonight Yoochun”, the oldest member said, coming back from around the corner and leaving just as quickly.
Yoochun sighed, knowing better than to complain and started gathering the dirty plates from the table, noticing Junsu was doing the same.
“What are you doing?” he asked, frowning.
“Helping you with the dishes”, Junsu answered innocently, but Yoochun already knew what it was all about.
With a resigned sigh Yoochun let him help him, “just so you know I’m not helping you when your turn to wash them comes”.
Junsu nodded, taking the plates and putting them in the sink. He rinsed them while Yoochun got the detergent and was shoed away by the older man, “You’ve helped enough, now go finish unpacking”.
Junsu stood there, still holding a rice bowl like a deer caught in headlights, “Let me help you please!”
“You’ve helped enough already, now go”, Yoochun pried Junsu’s fingers from the bowl while he pushed him gently out of the kitchen.
“Please, I don’t want to be alone”, Junsu just short of begged but Yoochun finally got him out of the kitchen and was closing the door behind him.
“Changmin is in your room, you won’t be alone”, he said before closing the door and going back to the dishes.
Junsu wanted to stay there, even if it was outside the door but one look at the dark living room and he sprinted up the stairs in no time.
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Yunho toyed with the doll’s button eyes. He had left the table before any of them so he could retrieve the doll he had hidden behind the TV the day Junsu got locked in the basement. Sitting on the side of his bed he wondered if the girl from that day would ever come again for her doll. He hadn’t even caught her name so he couldn’t ask around if anybody knew where she lived and deliver the small ragged doll to her personally.
Lost in his thoughts as he was he didn’t hear the soft knocks on his door, and barely had time to hide the doll under his pillow when a light-brown haired head poked its way through the gap between the opened door and the wall.
“Yunho? May I come in?” Jaejoong asked noticing the leader was slightly jumpy.
“Uh? Yeah, sure.”
Jaejoong was already dressed in sweats and a tank top, his naked feet making no sound on the hardwood floor as he advanced towards the leader.
“Do you have any toothpaste? Seems like I forgot mine in the rush to pack”, Jaejoong asked, holding his toothbrush up so Yunho could see the reason of his late night visit.
“Y-yeah, it’s in my bag”, Yunho said, pointing to his unpacked bag sitting on the floor.
“You haven’t unpacked? Aish…” Jaejoong kneeled in front of Yunho’s bag and unzipped it.
“I was checking our schedule and other stuff so-“
“How many times I’ve told you to fold your shirts before? If you don’t you will have to iron them constantly and the fabric wears out”, Jaejoong said, taking out the messily packed shirts and folding them while Yunho sighed and hugged Jaejoong tightly enough from behind to make the other man have trouble breathing.
“That’s why I have you”, he said in a sickly sweet voice meant to tease only to get a elbow shoved painfully at his chest, making him let go with an “oof”.
“Yah! I’m not your maid, so get folding”, Jaejoong tossed a wrinkled shirt at Yunho’s face, “I cannot find the toothpaste in this mess.”
They folded shirts in silence, stacking one on top of the other when finally Jaejoong broke the silence.
“Thanks”, he said not taking his eyes from the shirts.
Yunho stared puzzled at him, “for what?”
“For making this happen; this house”, Jaejoong replied, waving his arms around to emphasize his point.
Yunho smiled but kept folding, “You should thank Changmin for that. Without his approval we wouldn’t have bought it.”
Jaejoong nodded, fishing for the toothpaste in Yunho’s now much emptier bag. Suddenly his eyes lit up and his hand came back out clutching a tube of toothpaste.
“Found it! Finish folding those and put them away. Good night!” he exclaimed and left Yunho’s room.
Yunho smiled and shook his head at Jaejoong’s retreating figure. That guy could be such a mom sometimes. He finished unpacking and folding his clothes (else Jaejoong would have a fit) and changed into some sweats to sleep in after he put most of his clothes away in the drawers and the closet in his room. He was exhausted and as soon as his head hit the pillow he was out like a light.
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Junsu couldn’t sleep. Changmin had been on his laptop when he arrived at his room and went to sleep shortly after, making him no company at all. He tried to close his eyes and sleep but the silence was unbearable. He tried to use his mp3 but now that his ears were busy and his brain wouldn’t replay the breathing he had heard in the basement, his imagination did a pretty good job at putting a grotesque and incredibly frightening face to the equally frightening breathing that had ghosted over his shoulder days ago.
He spent hours like this, lying in his bed curled up in a tight ball; not daring to utter a sound, not daring to move even when his leg started cramping from being flexed for so long.
When Changmin’s stomach grumbled and the youngest woke up for his midnight snack, Junsu couldn’t take it anymore and scurried to Yoochun’s room as soon as Changmin was out of theirs.
He knelt next to Yoochun’s sleeping form and shook him softly.
“Wha-“, Yoochun said groggily, trying to distinguish the form kneeling next to his bed.
“Junsu?” he asked leaning against his arm and checking the clock on top of the bedside table, “it’s 2:40am, what are you doing here?”
“Let me stay here”, Junsu whispered, proceeding to chew on his lips nervously.
“Hm? No way, go back to your room”, Yoochun said as he ran a hand over his face, trying to rub the sleepiness away.
“Please!”
Yoochun took one look at Junsu’s whimpering form and let a big breath out through his nose, scooting to make place for Junsu on the bed.
“Just for tonight”, he warned.
Relief washed over Junsu’s body as he climbed under the covers next to Yoochun, pressing his head against the older man’s back.
“Just for tonight”, he agreed.
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Yunho woke up with a start. There was somebody in his room, he was sure of it. He kept still and quiet, hoping the intruder would make a noise, giving them away. His suspicion was confirmed when a girlish giggle was heard and tiny feet ran to his door, the unmistakable silhouette of a skirt flowing after the wearer and out of his room.
Yunho tossed the covers aside and ran after what seemed to be a girl. He stopped in the hallway when he realized he could no longer hear the girl’s laughter. He looked around in the darkness and could make out the outlines of the closed doors surrounding the space. He hadn’t heard a door open and close so she must have gone downstairs.
Cringing at the squeaking wood under his foot he decided to get it done and over with and he walked down the stairs hurriedly. He went in the direction of the kitchen when he saw the light was on but the window in the middle of the door allowed him to see it was only Changmin eating the leftovers from dinner. Turning around he noticed the sliding doors in the living room were slightly open.
Standing just inside the sliding doors he noticed the door to the boat house was open. ‘Not a smart move to hide there’, thought Yunho, running across the backyard and towards the river. He crossed the unsteady and narrow bridge to the rotting structure and entered the place.
Darkness permeated the inside of the dangerous place and he cursed at himself for not bringing a flashlight. Rubbing his arms against the humid cold of the river he called out with a tentative “hello?” but the only response he got was a bat flying straight to his face, scaring the crap out of him. Deciding it wise to stop his search in an unfamiliar place where he could hear the waves from the river in the inside of the boat house he locked the place and went back to the house.
Changmin was waiting for him standing in the living room.
“What happened?” he inquired.
“I thought I saw…“ Yunho stopped midsentence before shaking his head, “Nevermind, I must be hearing things”.
“Maybe it was me. I thought I wasn’t making too much noise, sorry for waking you up Hyung”, Changmin apologized.
“It’s alright, go to sleep now though”, Yunho said and followed Changmin upstairs.
“Good night”, Changmin said once they reached his room to which Yunho replied with a ‘Good Night’ of his own and went to his own room.
Back in his room, Yunho went back to bed and sighed. What had just happened? Maybe it was all a dream but that wouldn’t explain the open living room doors or the embankment being unlocked. He put an arm behind his head and under his pillow, his eyes widening when he noticed something missing. He turned around and lifted the pillow, then lifted the covers and searched across the room’s perimeter but found nothing.
The doll was gone.
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Was it too terrible? I am not happy at all with this chapter but it took me around four days to write it so I was hesitant to start it again since I have my Japanese final and all. It's barely edited only because it's so long! (I'm a lazy cow okay? I know there are stories with way longer chapters out there). I promise something better for chapter 5, this was mostly a filler chapter :/
Oh yeah, YooSu fans can bask in the YooSuness that is this story. When did this happen? I asked you if you wanted pairings and I only got one person saying JaeChun while I said I wanted to do YunJae and it ended being a YooSu fest. :/ In the end I decided there won't be any major pairings, only friendship and stuff. But there's nothing planned so who knows? :)